Electric Fences - Advice Wanted...PLEASE!

[Ginnys]

I'm looking for advice or personal experiences that anyone has to offer....please!

I have 4 large dogs, one which is an escape artist and I'm at the end of my rope.  I have replaced the entire fencing around my property so it is in good shape, but my escape artist has discovered she can squeeze underneath it with a little digging.  I have now placed large rocks at the base of the fence, but one of my dogs has a lizzard fetish....so he moves the rocks in his hunts opening the bottom of the fence for my 'artist' to escape.

I let 3 of the dogs run the property, but the 'artist' is now chained to a tree with a long lead when I let the dogs out....which breaks my heart.  I had to take this drastic action 'cause during her last escape she wondered into one of my neighbors horse corrals (in the dark of night), and since she looks a little like a coyote the horse kicked her.  To her luck she survived the kick with no broken bones, but all of her top front teeth were snapped off to the gum line and the skin on her bottom jaw was peeled back.  She looked like an extra from the movie The Alien when I found her and rushed her to Emergency.

So I'm now at the end of my rope - guilty about chaining her to a tree - and worried about not chaining her.  I think my only alternative is the electric fence route, and would appreciate any advice or recommendations you might be willing to share.

The pic with this message is my escape artist when she was a pup with all of her teeth (sigh)

[Laura]

   Hi Ginny-

   A friend of mine had to take some drastic action when she discovered that her male dog was climbing the fence- it's a 6-foot fence, but he had found a tree trunk close enough to the fence that he could jump from that to the top of the fence and scramble over.  Her older dog (who has NEVER, EVER come when called!)  then started digging under...  so she used hot wire.  attached all along the top and bottom of the fence- about 3-4 inches off the ground, and about 1 inch out from the fence, then a repeat strand at the top of the fence.  NO- she didn't WANT to.  BUT-  it became a necessary step for their own safety!  She lives in a rural area- I doubt this would be allowed in town!  She had a friend wire the whole fence line, and attach it to the fence charger inside her garage.  No more escapees, and her dogs can now safely enjoy the day outside when she's at work (she has a very wooded property, so no worry about too much sun- and their is also a shelter alongside the garage the dogs can lounge in if the weather turns wet.  I know this is a small charger, not a big, strong, cattle charger.  She also used the fence TAPE, not just the wire- more visible to the dogs, so they don't inadvertantly step on it.
   It came down to the safety of her dogs-  easy enough to keep them in if they were only escaping while she was at work- but they started escaping within minutes of being let out.  You sometimes have to do what you have to do to keep them safe.  Good luck-

[Ginnys]

Thanks Laura!  I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with similar problems.  I to live in a rural area, and am looking at a couple of acres to fence....part of the reason why I feel so guilty chaining my escape artist to a tree when the rest of the pack are out exploring.

Gotta question about your friend....
It sounds like she has a constant electrified fence - no collar transmitters to worry about.  I live in a fire area, and am usually evacuated every year or two.  Also when we have a heavy rain year my property develops one or two fast moving streams due to mountain runoff (and of course fire burnouts).  I know this sounds like a real bad property to live on, but it really is a great place with fantastic mountain views (smile).  Any-who...does the lower wire cause a fire danger when and if weeds grow up?  ...and what happens if floods occur?  Does the system short out?

If I'm wrong and she does have collar transmitters, what has been her luck with them.  On some sites I've found the transmitters are easily destroyed by the dogs, and costly to replace.  Has she had this problem?

Like I said, I'm a newbie to all of this and am desperate for any advice.  I like the idea of a constant electrified fence 'cause it would keep other wildlife out of the property (coyotes, mountain lions, bears, etc.), but I'm also worried about fire, neighbors, workmen, etc.).

Please....more advice.

[Ginnys]

Laura - I never heard back from you  , so I continued my hunt for advice.  Because of my concern for the safety of my 'escape artist' I decided on Invisible Fence... http://www.invisiblefence.com/ - ASPCA and Vets say they are safe and effective, so wish me luck.  My little escape artist is getting cabin fever being tied to a tree when the rest of my dogs are running the property, so tomorrow is the day - it gets installed.

For my flood problem - the wire will be strung to the top of my existing fence - it also protects it from other animals chewing through it (e.g. coyotes).  For power outages it is going to have a battery backup that is good for 12 hrs.  For the gates, they are going to bury it in PVC at the openings.   The Rep that showed up to look at the property said that the product has a 99% effectivity, and he only has run into one dog that would lay down close to the boundry thinking the muscle twitch he was receiving was a weird neck massage.  They automatically send fresh batteries for the collar free every 3 months.  And for 'destroyed' collar transmitters - all I have to do is send the piece to the supplier and a replacement is sent free of charge.  The system has two boundaries - one which emits a beep and the second which will emit the 'pulse' - plus the boundaries can be set anywhere from 3 ft to 12 ft from the property boundary (my fence).  Then on top of all that they will work with you to train the dog on the system, leave a DVD with a training video, and will return to readjust the system if you still have any problems....and the system comes with a light monitor to let you know if there is a break in the line.

I've got my fingers crossed this will work!  I'll post again and let everyone know how the system works.  It sure sounds like this might be the answer - keep your fingers crossed for us!  I've got my fingers crossed that this doesn't turn out like the old saying - It sounds to good to be true - but call me an optimist. 

[dingbat]

Ginnys

Invisible fence has limitations. It really depends on the breed of dog and how much they want to get out.

Our guys would just keep going, especially if there was something to chase.

Just wanted to give you something to think about.

db

[Ginnys]

Thanks DB!
I didn't get your post until after the fence was installed, but so far I'm THRILLED!!!!

I completed the 10 days of training with my escape artist...and she is off running the yard again.  I think she is as thrilled as I am. 

The flags are still up to show her the safe boundary, and she has learned quickly.  She'll run full speed across the yard and then put on the breaks as she sees the flags coming near.

She now has 3 boundaries to go through....first the flags....next the shocks...then the 5 foot fence that is only 2 years old.  I think she is now cured of her wandering days or she is quietly planning her big escape from Alcatraz 

But to your point, my Vet told me that some folks did have a problem when the dogs did sucessfully escape - they couldn't get back into the yard because of the Invisible Fence.  So there are down sides, but I think my little gal has given up all ideas of escape after getting jolted a few times.

Time will tell, but for now it was money well spent......one more visit to the Emergency Room with her would have equaled the investment I've made in the 'fence'.

[Laura]

  Hi-  Sorry, I haven't been on this list for a few months- VERY busy!  But I'm glad you've found a solution that works for you- on it's own, I'm not thrilled with the Invisible Fence thing- but as a supplement to an existing fence-  I've considered it myself!!  Especially since I am in the suburbs, if I have to reinforce my chain-link fencing, tht would be the way to go.  Very good that it's solved your problem and that your "houdini" can now play with the others!!

[Ginnys]

Hi Laura!
I'm still thrilled with the invisible fence, but I have to say that if I didn't have a 'real' fence on the parimeter of the property I would still have a problem.  The invisble fence is set to the max - a 12 foot zone (safety and shock zone) from the existing fence.  I tired out the collar sensor on myself before putting it on my 'escape artist', and I have to tell you it's like getting a mild taser - one you don't want to experience very often.  It's enough of a shock that I wouldn't go past the 'safety' parimeter, but I have watched my 'artist' run to the 'real' fence with the my other dogs to greet people/dogs on the other side of the 'real' fence.  She doesn't stay near the 'real' fence very long, but I know if the 'invisible' fence was the only parimeter blockade I had I would still have a problem with escapes.  The 'invisible' fence (by itself) would be great for people that didn't have pets with commited wander-lust like mine.  For people with pets that have die-hard adventurers (like my escape artist), it is a great second barrier to keep your pets confined.

I have had no problems with escapes since I put it in, and I now can sleep late on the weekends after letting my dogs out in the AM with no fears of escapes.  I have four large dogs, and only my escape artist requires the  'collar'.  What can I say, she is the only one with an adventerous soul  that believes the grass is greener on the other side .

So my approx. 6 week report after it's installation is - things are going great.  My escape artist is running the property and exhausting herself playing with the other dogs, and I have peace of mind that she is safe.  Now I just wish there was a way to put a collar on all the rabbits, ground squirrels and gophers that have raised havoc on my property this summer to keep them out  .